Interiors: Outside in

When the weather hots up, the side of this house opens like a garage door. Sarah Smith enjoys life on the terraces

Four years ago, the French architect Régis Daniel dreamt about building two simple houses next door to each other in Marseilles — one for his family and one for close friends. “You always have neighbours, so it is better to choose who lives next door,” says his wife, Catherine.

Designing new buildings in an old city meant Régis had to fit into what little space was available. He found a plot of land between some old terraced houses and worked on a design that would make the most of the site. He proposed that the two houses should have separate terraces on the ground floor, but share a decked roof area and large garden.

His wife and their friends didn’t share his enthusiasm, however. “When we saw the site, it was ugly and awful,” says Catherine, “so my husband had to fight with us a bit. He knew how good it